Masters Preview: Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler arrive as favorites

The PGA Tour versus LIV Golf. 

Scottie Scheffler versus Jon Rahm. 

Those two storylines be atop the pre-tournament leaderboard at what shapes up as one of the most intriguing major championships anyone can remember. The 2024 Masters Tournament brings together the best players in the world for the first time this year over the world's most recognizable golf course, Augusta National. 

Sure, the Masters saga of Rory McIlroy, and the questions around Jordan Spieth's recent play will bubble up, but nothing rivals the game's divided, bi-polar, state of the dis-union the game of professional golf  as the week's main storyline.  Can't wait for the first tee shot when Masters golf will once again take over. 

Scheffler won his first Masters by three shots in 2022 despite a four-putt double bogey on the 72nd hole. Rahm won his first Masters by four shots in 2023 despite a four-putt double bogey on the first hole on Thursday. Both wins were even more dominant than what appears in the record books. 

Fore Majors Golf takes a look back at the 2023 Masters to see if we can see where Augusta National will test the game's best in 2024. 

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER

2023 Masters Analysis - Except for two hours on Friday when he played the final 10 holes of round two 3-over-par, Scheffler played better than remembered a year ago. It wasn't until a double-bogey on 12th hole on Sunday that he was eliminated. Scottied made just 7 bogeys - matching Rahm's total - to go with two doubles for the week. He dominated the par-5s, playing the second hole 4-under-par, No. 15 3-under, 13 2-under, and No. 8 1-under without a bogey. 

Par 3s - 3-over-par

Par 4s - 3-over

Par 5s - 10-under

Amen Corner- 1-over

Front Nine - 4-under

Back  Nine - Even

Holes 1to6 - 3-under

Holes 7to12- 2-over

Holes13to18- 3-under

Eagles - 1

Birdies - 13

Pars - 49

Bogeys - 7

Doubles - 1

Scottie Scheffler's Major Championship Record

2024 Masters Chances - Nothing surprising here. There's no way the Number 1 player in the world can not be the favorite going into this Masters. He won the Masters two years ago, finished T2 and third in last year's PGA and U.S. Open, respectively. With two wins and a second in his last three starts, he arrives at Augusta National in top form.

JON RAHM

2023 Masters Analysis - Rahm opened the 2023 renewal with a four-putt double-bogey before playing Augusta magnicently the other 71 holes. He played steady the first six holes each of the four days, stepping onto the seventh tee even for the round on Thursday and Friday, and one-over-par on Saturday. From there, he played seven of the 12 remaining holes under-par for the week. He dominated the par-5s, going 5-under on the par-5 eighth hole alone. He was at his best on the back nine on Sunday, with birdies on 13 and 14 enroute to a 2-under-par final nine. 

Par 3s - 1-under

Par 4s - 1-under

Par 5s - 10-under

Amen Corner- 2-under

Front Nine - 7-under

Back  Nine - 3-under

Holes 1to6 - Even

Holes 7to12- -8

Holes13to18- -4

Eagles - 1

Birdies- 19

Pars - 44

Bogeys - 7

Doubles - 1

Jon Rahm's Major Championship Record

2024 Masters Chances - Ranked No. 2 in the world and a two-time major champion, the only question mark on Rahm's resume is how well prepared his 2024 LIV Golf season has him. If last year's Masters where four of the top six finishers played LIV Golf, Jon probably is just fine. He's obviously the one Scheffler has to beat. 

WYNDHAM CLARK

2023 Masters Analysis - Perhaps nothing illustrates Clark's rapid rise in the World Ranking, all the way up to No. 4, is the fact that Clark was not even eligible for the Masters a year ago. In fact, this will be his first Masters ever. 

Par 3s - N/A

Par 4s - N/A

Par 5s - N/A

Amen Corner- N/A

Front Nine - N/A

Back  Nine - N/A

Holes 1to6 - N/A

Holes 7to12- N/A

Holes13to18- N/A

Eagles - N/A

Birdies - N/A

Pars - N/A

Bogeys - N/A

Doubles - N/A

Wyndham Clark's Major Championship Record

2024 Masters Chances - Clark has been the second-best player on the PGA Tour this year, and might just be a rimmed-out putt on the 18th hole of the Player's Championship away from actually contesting Scottie Scheffler's top spot. Clark shot 60 at Pebble Beach and won the rain-shortened AT&T Pro-Am in February. He has length, but more importantly, the short game to compete with the best in Augusta. All he has to answer is his response to the awe factor that goes with a player's first trip to Augusta National.